"Dear God, I Need a Miracle" - The Christian Online Magazine

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"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation."
Exodus 15:2

In the course of living in a turbulent world, people often offer up the short prayer, "Dear God, I need a miracle."

A student has studied the course material, but on the day of the examination, the student discovers that the questions are incomprehensible. As the student despairs, they moan, "Dear God, I need a miracle."

Parents have raised their children in a Christian home, but when one child becomes a teenager and begins to seemingly fall away from the path of righteousness, the parents helplessly sigh, "Dear God, we need a miracle."

An employee has loyally worked for a company for over 20 years, when one day, without warning, their employment is terminated. As the employee considers the bills that are over due, the employee whispers, "Dear God, I need a miracle."

A young woman sits in stalled traffic and considers the importance of the appointment she is trying to make. As the young woman watches the numbers rapidly flash on the clock and the traffic remains stalled, she pleads, "Dear God, I need a miracle."

Every day, whether it is either a situation that will seemingly alter a person’s life forever or is simply the desire to pass an examination in school, people want to experience miracles.

Do miracles happen? The Holy Bible details many miracles that Jesus Christ performed, to include the following:

Giving sight to the blind - Matthew 20:30-34

Making the lame to walk - Luke 5:24-25

Feeding the multitude - John 6

Casting out devils - Matthew 9:32-33

Bringing the dead to life - Luke 7:13-15

Healing the multitudes - Matthew 19:2

Imagine yourself in the place of the blind man. You have relied on the mercy of others. You have only known darkness. Then, Jesus Christ appears and turns your darkness into light. It is not just a miracle that you have received sight after having been blind, but also the ability to see is a miracle in itself.

Imagine yourself in the place of the lame man. When you have desired to go someplace, you have been required to secure the services of others. Then, Jesus Christ appears and turns your lameness into mobility. It is not just a miracle that your lameness was vanquished, but also the ability to have control over your physical being is a miracle in itself.

Imagine yourself in the crowd that assembled before Jesus Christ on the mount. As you rushed to join the crowd, you forgot to pack food. Now, you grow hungry and only a small boy has brought a seemingly insignificant bundle of food. You watch as Jesus Christ feeds over 5,000 people from the boy’s small bundle. It is a miracle that not only did Jesus Christ feed a multitude from a small bundle of food, but also it is a miracle that Jesus Christ knew the needs of the crowd.

Imagine yourself in the place of the man possessed by demons. You are an outcast from society because of your unpredictable behavior. There is no peace for you. Then, Jesus Christ casts the demons out of your body and out of your life. It is not just a miracle that Jesus Christ was able to cast out devils, but also it is a miracle that you possess a soul.

Imagine yourself as the young man who was dead. Perhaps, you lived your short life believing that death would never come. The unexpected happens; you die. Then, Jesus Christ comes to you and brings you back to life. As you are revived, you fail to recall a single incident when a person who had died had been brought back to life. It is not just a miracle that Jesus Christ was able to revive the dead, but also it is a miracle that Jesus Christ revived YOU.

Considering the above miracles, what other miracle could possibly compare? The first miracle performed by Jesus Christ provides the foundation for all subsequent miracles, with the first miracle being the act of turning water into wine (John 2). During the celebration of a feast, it was discovered that there was not enough wine. In answer to his mother’s petition for a "miracle", Jesus Christ turned water into wine.

Considering the significance of making the blind to see, why would the miracle of turning water into wine be the first miracle? As God knows the ending from the very beginning, the life of Jesus Christ was for a single purpose (salvation). As Mark 14:22-24 relates:

"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."

The first miracle involved a petition (Jesus’ mother asking for a "miracle") and then taking something that was plain (water) and turning it into something valued (wine). Likewise, salvation involves first our petitioning God and then the transformation of our lives.

As the first miracle Jesus Christ performed preceded all other miracles, before a person can truly SEE the truth of God, before a person can WALK in righteousness, before a person can be FED on the word of God, before a person can be shed of DEMONS, and before a person can receive ETERNAL LIFE, they must first receive salvation. The miracle of salvation provides the foundation for all subsequent miracles.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ in itself is a miracle, but also the fact that God’s love for YOU is so great that He would send His only begotten Son to redeem you is a miracle. As the familiar scripture John 3:16 encourages:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

In situations wherein you may whisper, "Dear God, I need a miracle", remember the power of the first miracle and that God not only knows all of your needs, but that God will also meet all of your needs.

"For your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

(Matthew 6:8)

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by

Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Dear God, thank you for your miracles.